The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-07-14
WON'T VISIT ST. LOUIS.
fext OF the Presidents Letter DECLINING the In.
vitation to Be the City's Guest In sspten.
ber. y
10 Would Do Nothing TO Disturb tho Harmony
Of the g. 4. B. Non at Their Encan
ment.

No W0UlQ ~ NOERlUB 70 UlBtuIW NV nokAVWy
Of the q. l.. 4. Men at Their Enesn ,.
ment.
WASHINGTON, Special Telegram, July T.
The following letter from President Cleve-
land to the mayor OF st. Louis. who was
the chairman Of the committee OF citizens
who invited the president to visit st. Louis
during the holding OF the encampment OF
the Grand Army Of the Republic, in Sep
TENDER, ia published to-day:
Executive Mansion. Washington, July 4:
Hon. David r. Francis. Mayor and
Chairman Dear Sir: When I received tho
extremely cordial and gratifying invitation
from the citizens Of st. Louis, rendered by
q number of her representative men, to
visit that city during the national encamp-
ment OF the Grand Army of the Republic.
tho acceptance of the invitation from that
organization to tho same effect, oud had
considered the pleasure which it would al
ford me il it should he possible to meet,
not only members of the Grand Army, but
the people OF St. Louis and other cities
in the West which occasion would give
me an opportunity to visit. Thee xactions
of my public duties I feel to be so uncer.
tain, however. that when first confronted
NY Wig uCltkAVlOlI VI IA IVA ~
head, l expected to do no more at that
time than to promise consideration OF the
double invitation rendered me, and to ex-
press the pleasure it would give me to &C
cept the same Thereafter, if possible. But
the cordiality and sincerity Of your pres
entation, reinforced by the heartiness Of
the people who surrounded you, 80 i'm
pressed me that / could not resist the feel
ing which prompted me to assure you on
klo c~o% +t,n% r uvo,,1l ho With u0r, nd fho
Grand Army OF the Republic at the time
then designated, il nothing happened
in the meantime to absolutely prevent
my leaving Washington. Immediately up
on the public announcement OF this con-
%clusion, expressions emanating from GER
tain important members OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic and increasing in
volume and virulence. constrained me to
review my acceptance OF these INVITATIONS.
tent Of declaring that I would be an I'm.
welcome guest at the time and place Of tho
national encampment. This statement is
based as well as ! can judge, upon certain
official acts OF mine involving important
public interests, lone under the restraints
and obligations OF my oath of office, which
do not appear to, accord with the wishes OF
some members Of the Grand Army ofthe Re-
public. l refuse to believe hat this Or
BdulLd uIlO upOh P~HAsoVS AAV0WS
composed very largely OF men entitled TO
lasting honor and consideration, and
whose browning glory it should be that
they are American citizens as we'll as sold
iers, deems it a part OF it's mission to
compass any object or purpose by at
tempting to
MrIMIDATE THE EXECUTIVE
or coerce those charged with making and
executing the laws; and yet, the expressions
to which I have referred indicate such q
prevalence of unfriendly feeling and such a
menace to an occasion which SHOULD %
harmonious, peaceful and cordial, that
they can not be ignored. I beg you to I'M
derstand hat I am not conscious OF any
act OF mine which should make me fear to
meet the Grand Army of the Republic or
any other assemblage of my fellow citizens.
The account OF my official stewardship is
always ready for presentation to my coun.
trymen. should not be frank If l failed
to confess, while disclaiming all resentment,
that have been hurt by those unworthy
and wanton attacks upon me-, growing out
of this matter, and the reckless manner in
which my actions and motives have been
misrepre sek tad. both publicly and private
ly-for which, however, the Grand Army
OF the Republic, as a body, is not RESPONSE
BILE. Threats Of personal violence and
harm in case I take the trip in question
which scores OF misguided, unbalanced men,
under stimulation OF excited feeling,
er than abandon my visit to the West, and
disappoint your citizens, might, if l alone
were concerned, submit to insult to which,
it is quite openly asserted, I would be help.
lessly subjected II presentaht the encamp.
ment, but l should bear with me there the
peoples highest office, the dignity OF which
l must protect, and I believe that neither
the Grand Army OF the Republic, as an or
ga~nization, nor anything like a majority
s%candalous attack upon it. II, how
ever, among tho membership OF this
body there are some, as certainly seems
to be the case, determined to de-
nounce me and my official acts at the ma
tional encampment, l believe they should
be permitted to do SO unrestrained by my
presence as the guest OF their organization,
or the guest OF the hospitable city in which
their meeting is held. A number Of the
Grand Army posts nave eisnihed their in.
~tention, l am informed, to remain away
from the encampment in case I visit tho
city ct that time.
10TH TO CAUSE TROUBLE.
Without considering the merit ofsuch an
excuse. I feel that / ought not to be the
cause of such non-attendance. The time
and place OF the encampment were
fixed long before my invitations were
received. Those desiring to. par
ticipate in its proceedings should be first
regarded. and no being should be permitted
to interfere with their intentions. Another
consideration, OF more Importance than
all others, remains to be noticed. The
fact was referred to by you when you YER
bally presented the invitation OF tho citi'
zens OF st. Louis, that the coming encamp-
ment of the Grand Army OF the Republic
would be the first held in q Southern State.
l suppose the TACT was mentioned as g.
pleasing indiction of the fraternal feeling
so fast gaining ground throughout the
entire land, and hailed by every
patriotic citizen AZ an earnest that
the Union has really, and in fact, been
saved in the sentiment and spirit, with all
the benefits it vouchsafes to- a united PEG.
the least discord on this propitious &C.
casion might retard the progress Of tho
sentiment OF common brotherhood. which
the Grand Army of the Republic has SO
good an opportunity to increase and fos.
ter. / certainly ought not to be the cause
of such discord, in any event or upon any
pretext. 1t seems to me that you and the
citizens of St. Louis are entitled to this
unreserved statement OF conditions which
has constrained me to forego my con-
templated visit, and to withdraw my &C.
ceptance OF your Invitation. Ny pres
ence in your city at the time you
have indicated can be OF but little moment
compared with the Importance OF the cor
dial and harmonious entertainment OF
y orr other guests. ! assure you that I
abandon my plan without the least per-
sonal feeling except regret, constrained